With over 20 years of experience covering the Steelers for the Observer-Reporter, Dale Lolley will let you know the insider scoop. Dale can also be heard on the Steelers radio network pre-game show on WDVE-FM game days and Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on ESPN 970-AM and WDVE during the season as a host of the Antonio Brown Show. Follow him on Twitter at @dlolleyor

8 comments:

I know Ben is the franchise QB, has enjoyed record-breaking success through his first years in the league (including a Super Bowl), and signed far-and-away the largest contract in team history. He is also clearly the starting QB on this team. With that said, has there been any rumblings by any of his teammates that the offense seems to have moved better with Byron this year or is the team 100% supportive of Ben through his struggles this year.

I personally think Byron has done a great job but it's been in a very limited sample. I support Ben as QB but think Byron would fill in very well if needed.

Well I'm not going to say the Steelers would be just as good with Brad Johnson again, but over a 16 game season, I just do not think that Leftwhich gives the same production and leadership to this team as Ben does.

It's my opinion, and I could certaintly be proven wrong, but Ben is just head and shoulders better. Is he having a tough year? Sure. Did he have a tough year in 2006? you bet, but he was great in 2004, 2005, and 2007. Leftwhich has not had those kind of seasons and is not capable of making the plays Ben does. I'm sure the locker room recognizes that.

Fact of the matter is, they signed Ben $100 million. They aren't going to start anyone over him for quite some time. Even if Leftwich is the better option (I don't believe you can base that on two halves of play over the course of an entire season, nor do I think he's the better option -- period) they couldn't admit to a $100 million mistake. Not in the first year of his contract.

Ben is playing behind a god-awful O-line. Blame him for holding onto the ball all you want -- we've seen Kemoeatu and and Colon wiff enough times to know where most of the problem lies.

If the offense steps up -- if we can run the ball, if the O-Line can block, if Ben can keep his head on straight -- we'll win the Super Bowl. Don't forget his play during the 2005 playoff run. It was nothing short of legendary.

If he's healthy enough to play, he's going to play. That's the bottom line. He's this team's QB.And nobody in that locker room is going to say anything otherwise.There are things they like better about Leftwich. The offensive line knows where he's going to be at on every play. They don't have to worry about him running into a sack.The receivers know he's going to get rid of the ball quickly and it's going to go where the play dictates.But those are some of the same things we heard about Tommy Maddox.

Dale, if you had to guees, what would you say the Steelers are going to do in the playoffs? 1 and done, another championship game loss, or all the way to the SB?

Do you expect to see anything different from the offense or defense? I don't think the defense would try to change anything, but the offense could obviously use a spark. Is that going to be them using the I formation more?